Device for adjusting the spine



` 1,640,519 Afug 30 1927 l.. scHAEFr-'ER DEVICE FOR ADJUSTING THE SPINE Filed NOV. 3, 1925 W INVENToR.

AT TORNEY.

Patented Aug. 30, 11927.

nrrsn sra LEON SCHAEFFER, OF SULPHUR, OKLAHOMA.

nnvronron AnJUsTiNG THE srnvn.Y

Application filed November 3, 1925. i Serial No. 66,459.

My invention relates to an instrument for adjusting the vertebral column of living vertebrate beings and to appliances foll carrying the use of said instrument into effec) rlhe object of my invention is to produce an instrument or spacer for use in the oiiice or hospital; as well as at bedside or sick room, with more efficiency than adjustments made by the hands or other instruments; to restore spaces between the segments of the vertebra when needed; to adjustthe vertebral columnof living vertebrate beings so to relieve impingements of the spinal cord and nerves by the mal-position of the segments of lthe vertebra and otherwise; greater eiiiciency through specific application to intervertebral articulations, instead of hit or miss process of pulling of the entire human anatomy as is the case with hand manipulations and other devices known as spinal tractors or traction machines; another object is to properly place the instrument and' by its shape and the proper aps. plication thereof to raise the articular processes of the vertebra off the impinged nerves; restoring' the intervertebral foramen, intervertebral disc spaces and lumen of the neural canal; to releasel intravertebral connections and restore intervertebral cartilaginous spaces; a machine having centrifugal momentum directly through the perpendicular axis and points of contact effecting bi-segmental movements; a machine utilizing centrifugal force for adjusting and anchoring points of .Contact 'to laminae, spinous and transverse processes; a machine to movevertebral segments fromy any lateral mal-posi- I tion towards the median line; a machine hav.-

ing automatic levation of the whole axis with its upperv and lower appendages by means of coil springs; a machine having automatic levation for the contact instrument and automatic tiltingY levati-on;a machine susceptible of'gravity and momentum being furnished and supplied through operators own skillful energy applied'to handles and the ability to manipulate same axially; afinaf chine susceptible of combination of anchorage of lamina and spinous processes thus effecting lai-segmental movements; a machine susceptible of a combination of anchorage of laminae spinous processes andtransverse processes edecting bi-segmental movements;

Other objects and advantages will more fully appear in the-ensuing description and accompanying one-page drawing; of which,

Figure 1 is a perspective view ofthe device and operating table thereunder.

Figure 2 is an elevational view of the detachable portion of the instr ment.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the same.

Figurefl' is an elevational view of the Jtrument on the line A-A of Figure 2i Figure 5 is a sectional view of three segments of vertebrae showing the position of the detachable instrument thereabove.

Like characters of reference designate like parts in all the figures.

1 designates the extremity of the tapered portion of the adjusting instrument, 2 the short-outside surface between the extremity and the long surface side 3; i designates the opposite'or shorter side surface and 5 the surface of the adjusting instrument between the shorter side surface andl the extremity 1; 6 designates the outer covering of the adjusting instrument preferably being of soft finish leather, 7 the adhesive tape wrapping around 8 tough pliable rubber, 9 is the elongated handle around which the outer parts of. the instrument are built and 10 the 'cross pin or cross section rholding rmly the lower section of the adjusting instrument tothe handle member; 11 designates the .cross section bracing member integral with the handle l9 and intermediate the lower portion of the adjusting instrument and its T-shaped handle member 14; 12 designates the lateral arms of saidmiddlesection ending in torsion angles13 closely fitting; (when attached to the machine to operate the adjusting instrument) on lateral arms 18 integral with upright portion 17 and curved portion thereof 19, said lateral arms 18 lpassing through ring shaped aperture 15 at lower end of bifurcations 21 and 22 of axial rod 23; 2O designates a short coil spring connecting handle 14; to arm 22 of axial rod;

` 25 designates the cross section rodvintegral v23 which with bracing members 13 support integraly with said casing jointed at 37 carriage rods 33, 34, 35, 36, 38, 39, 40, 41 and 42; thecurved central portion 38 of rod 36 Cil tit axially into bore of wheel member Ll0 traveling on carrier rail 57 having upwardly raised stop ends respectively 73 and Til, said carrier rail connecting integrally with rods 72 and TO and bracing rod 71, the whole securely braced and held in piace heavy platform members 69 and 66; 61-62g63 on rod 311 and on rod 42 designate clamping members securely fastened on said rods; a5 designates a rod fastened to said clamping member bent at right angles therewith and another angie with a hook i6 on the end thereof supporting coil spring il? or a plurality thereof connecting with open wheel member Li8 on rod a9 through perforation 51 in flat lug member 50, 52 and 5st designate i'especti-;`ely pulley wheel members on rod -tD with ropes and working thereon; 56 designates ratchet wheel on rod i9 having a stud 58 on which is attached coil spring 59 connecting with perforation at end of bifurcation of axial rod; 60 designates extended lug connecting clamping means 'Vith rod #19; 6st designates a laterally extending rod connecting with clamping means and with perforated ends thereof from which depends pawl 66 connectedly fitting teeth 67 on ratchet wheel 56; 75 designates the adjusting table, 76 designates a portion of the body of a segment of the vertebra, 8O the superior articular process, thereof, 77 the inferior articular process, 78 forainen, 79 the spinous process, 81 the dorsal portion of the spinous process, and S2 the ventral portion of the spinous process.

it will be apparent that with the patient lying on his ventei on the table the djusting instrument, which l refer to name the intra forainen spacer and which is best shown by Figures 2 and a', 'may be used independently of the mechanism thereabove, when so desired; also that vertebra segments may easiiy be acted on by applying the long lip 5 to 81 the dorsal portion of the spinous process of one segment and the short lip 2 to 82 the ventral portion of the spiiious process of the next adjoining segment, and by a forward backward, lateral or axial pressure on the spacer7 when so placed, causes the segments to be spaced therebetween and the lateral nerve branches and possibly the spinal cord itself to be relieved of impiiigement, or of congestion caused therefrom;

also thatby a slight backward tilting of the spacer the upper segment would thereby be lifted and the lower segment lowered to a greater extent than by the straight forward pressure; also that by a slight forward tilting of the spacer the upper' segment involved would be lowered and t-hel lower segment be raised and pushed downward with relation to the head of the patient to a greater extent than by the straight forward pressure of the spacer; also that by a slight rotating, or torsion movement of the spacer the segments will be brought into close alignment with the vertebral spinal column, and

in all of said adjustments the intervertebral -iiiac articulations permit of renewed freedom to the pel-fic region.V The weight of the mechanism, and the weights thereon serve to act pressure upon the adjusting instrument to the extent same is needed, and this may be supplemented with additional weight desired by pressure on the handles 16.

it is also apparent that by placing adjusting instrument, or spacer, in connection with the mechanism as shown `in Figure 1 the arriage may be manually moved on the carrier rail 57 from the tip-turned terminus 7S to the other up-turned end 74 of thecarrier rail, or to any point therebetween, bringing it directly over the patients body so that a point of contact may be established by the spacer at any portionV of the vertebral column from Cranium ,to hips. The lowering and raising of the axial rod 23 through its tubular casing 32l is aided by a plurality of springs 47, and 59, and wheels 52, 54:, ropes 53, 55 and ratchet wheel 56, teeth 67 and pawl 66.

When the spacer ris desired to be used in connection with the mechanism the torsion fangs 13 are securely placed around crossbar 18 at the points where they are bent upwardly forming the perpendicular portion 17, the handle 9 fitting into the curved central portion 19 at the horizontal portion at top of perpendicular portion 17 and being securely held in place by a thumbscrew at acir of handle 9 (not shown). By adjusting the weights 31 towards the ends of rods 25, 29 and 36 more power may-be added to the rotating torsion movements of the spacer when such is desired, or when necessity demands it.

All movements of the instrument as described as applicable to the instrument herein, are obtainable also when the instrument is used in connection with the mechanism.

It will be understood any modifications within the scope of the claimed invention may be made in the construction and operation of the instrument and the mechanism without departng from the principle` of the invention, or sacrificing any of its advantages.

Having thusv described the invention,what is claimed, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is

thereon, a plurality of weights and weightsupporting members adjustably working in connection with said carriage, a two-way handle member with intermediate bent connecting rods, said instrument, as described,

rjustably lowering and raising said weights,

weight members, axial rod, bifureated arms, handle member, and said instrument as described; and means for adjustably removing the whole from a vposition over the patientsbody to its normal position.

2. An instrument or" the character described, comprising a handle memberV having an integral cross-section near its lower end securely holding in place a tough resilient body therearound, a tenacious wrapping of adhesive tape, or other suitable material. therearound, the whole being of an approximately flat rectangular form, its lower end being tapered with its apex near oneilat surface side, causing one long and one short beveled plane surface on said apex end, a casing therearound of soft finish leather, and in combination therewith, of a substantial supporting platform and bracing arms thereover, supporting a carriage rail, an operable carriage thereon, a plurality of weights and weight-supporting members adjustably lworking in connection with said carriage, a

two-way handle member with intermediate bent connecting rods, said instrument, as described, adjustably securely connecting said `intermediate rods, an axial rod connecting said weight members by bifurcated arms with said two-way handle member; means for adjustably lowering and raising said weights, weight members, axial rod, bifurcated arms, handle member, and said instrument as described; and means for adjustably removing the whole from a position over the patients body to its normal position.

. LEON SCHAEFFER. 

